Westerheim is located in the Swabian Alb Biosphere Reserve, which covers around 85,300 hectares. Several themes come together when planning a visit: marked hiking trails, chapels and viewpoints, as well as an extensive winter offering that depends on snow conditions. The different route lengths and activities give you practical ways to tailor your stay to your interests.
Hiking on Marked Routes
The six main hiking routes in Westerheim are all clearly marked. Two of them can be distinguished by their length: Hiking Route W2 is about 10.5 kilometers long; the summer toboggan run parking lot is a recommended starting point. W4 is just over 7 kilometers long, and the Alb-Halle is a recommended starting point. This lets you choose between two different route lengths without limiting your hiking options in the area to a single trail.
Another option is the approximately 8-kilometer Chapel Hiking Trail. It crosses Westerheim and continues to Egelsee, linking a route through the village with a historic destination: the Loretto Chapel along the way was built in 1705. The trail and routes W2 and W4 therefore offer different distances and destinations; which one suits your stay also depends on how much time you would like to set aside for hiking.
Chapels, Church and Viewpoints
St. Stephen’s Church is used for religious services and also serves as a venue for concerts, weddings and exhibitions. Guided tours are also available. As dates and contact details may change, it is best to check in advance for current tour options. The church complements Loretto Chapel as another cultural point of interest in Westerheim.
Two different places offer views: Sellenberg is considered Westerheim’s local mountain by residents and affords a beautiful view of the surrounding area. It is also the community’s green lung and a festival ground. The municipality has installed a Viscope telescope at the Westenberg viewpoint. Both spots connect your stay with the surrounding landscape, without requiring a longer hike to be the main focus.
Outside Westerheim, in the surrounding area, lies Schertelshöhle cave. This show cave is 212 meters long and has two passages with stalactite and sinter formations. It is a destination outside the village, while the hiking trails and viewpoints are located directly in Westerheim.
Winter Activities When Snow Conditions Permit
In winter, Westerheim has more than 30 kilometers of groomed cross-country ski trails, with skating routes of varying lengths and difficulty levels. The offering is seasonal, and snow conditions can vary. Four drag lifts are also part of the winter offering and are weather-dependent. If you are planning to use them, take current local conditions into account.
Snowshoeing is also possible when there is snow. Other snow-dependent activities include skijoring, where a horse pulls you across the snow, and kite skiing, where a paraglider pulls a skier across the snow. These activities are quite different from one another; check in advance that conditions are suitable for the winter experience you have planned.
Indoor Pool, Leisure and Cycling
Alb-Bad is an indoor swimming pool with a large lap pool and a separate paddling pool for toddlers. As operating details may change, check the latest information before visiting. Westerheim also has Adventure Golf as an outdoor leisure attraction.
Cycling is another option to consider: suggested Tour 4, “Mountain and Valley Stage for Sporty Cyclists,” is a 49.3-kilometer bike tour described as starting from Westerheim. As route conditions may change, take them into account when planning. Westerheim therefore offers a range of options for a stay, from short and longer hikes to cultural activities, seasonal winter pursuits and a longer cycling tour.
Discover more destinations: Heroldstatt, Rammingen, Schelklingen, Allmendingen, Neenstetten, Erbach, Langenau, Weidenstetten.
See the overview of the wider travel region: Alb-Donau District.
